UPS maintenance staff OK strike

UPS        HUMAN RESOURCES       MRO

Global - 1,400 mechanics working on maintaining UPS's worldwide fleet of 263 aircraft have authorised a strike in the midst of ongoing talks between the union and UPS.

Bob Combine, president of Teamsters Local 2727 told Reuters that 90% of the workers who voted gave the union the authorisation to call a strike if talks break down.

"I hope this sends a clear message to the company that the membership is behind us," Combine said.

Mike Mangeot, a spokesperson for UPS's air unit said the vote was "an internal gesture to show solidarity" and has "no legal substance" in the contract talks. 

Contract talks, which have been ongoing since three years ago, are set to resume on September 23-25.

Mangeot says the company has been contacting shippers on a regular basis to keep them informed of the contract negotiations.

"We are regularly reaching out to customers to make sure they know they are in good hands with UPS. UPS's goal in these negotiations is to reward our mechanics for their contributions to the company while protecting our ability to compete in the global transportation and logistics marketplace," Mangeot said.

"We are trying to negotiate a contract good for our employees, for our customers, for our company's competitive position and other stakeholders. The reality is we are making progress, albeit slowly.

"We certainly want to get an agreement that everybody can feel good about. We're working in good faith to do so," Mangeot added.

UPS said its aircraft mechanics make approximately US$43 an hour, or US$90,000 in base wages. UPS said that is more than the average US$69,000, according to the Bureau of Labour Statistics. UPS also pays for co-pay for health insurance, and have both a defined contribution pension plan and a 401(k) plan. UPS calls its mechanics "the best compensated workers" in the industry.

The only time UPS endured a nation-wide strike was in 1997, when then Teamsters Union president Ron Carey organised a 15-day walkout by its small package ground delivery workers. The strike was estimated to cost UPS some US$850 million in revenue.

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